Wisdom tooth - filling or extraction?

[lwdaisy]

I have a filling in my top right wisdom tooth that has broken, the dentist gave two options, 1, having new filling in composite to hold to tooth better as it is silver filling at the moment or 2, extraction but X-ray showed roots bent/crooked so would have to be referred to another dentist to extract.

I am unsure whether to get the filling done or get the extraction. I am a nervous patient. Dentist said if I had the filling I would still need the tooth exacting in the longterm but not sure how long it would last.

Any advice on which option may be best?

If not infected or hurting I'd have the filling, it'll probably last for years. I've got awful teeth from many fillings as a child (old so the days when nhs dentists got paid per filling and no fluoride in toothpaste) and consequently multiple breakages. Have had one wisdom tooth out due to infection/abscess under it, was surprisingly the easiest tooth I ever had out took seconds. It's unpleasant having extractions but doesn't really hurt, however, the healing process can take a week of aching and difficulty eating. I'd always try to save a tooth as long as possible..........mainly as I'm worried il run out of them🤣

Do you have the other wisdom corresponding tooth? If not, have it out because it's no use in any case.
I just had mine out and the one next to it filled (some weeks later). The filling was much worse. Didn't hurt but so much drilling. It was big but also in an awkward place for dentist.
In your situation, I'd have it out 100%. Job done.

Thank you, my initial thoughts were to have the filling but then online I saw some posts where dentists advise not to get wisdom tooth fillings.

It is not hurting and the dentist checked the roots and no infection.

Have it out - it's due to be whipped out in the future anyway. I had three of mine removed under general anaesthetic as I kept getting lock jaw. Best thing I did.

I'm not a nervous patient. Can fly through molar extractions easily. But the wisdom tooth extraction was the loudest crack I've ever heard, a big abscess that took over my whole jaw, evil antibiotics and not being able to open my mouth for 3 weeks.

The problem with wisdom teeth is that one day they can wake up and choose violence. I'd probably still get it out but I wish I'd known what I was in for.

This is so true about wisdom teeth :P

I am currently having a lot of issues after one grew into the side of the tooth next to it. The removal of it was actually really quick and easy and no pain, but the issues its caused with the other tooth are driving me insane. I really with they took this one out when I had 3 out in my 20s under general aesthetic.

I do still have the wisdom tooth beneath, it is this fear stopping me having it removed even though I know it will need to come out in future. I guess its just prolonging the inevitable.

I’m a nervous patient, my dentist wouldn’t touch my lower wisdom tooth as said it was close to the nerve
I paid a fair bit and went to a specialist oral surgeon at a dentist, she whipped it out in 5 minutes and didn’t feel a thing. They’re amazing!

Thank you. My dentist did say they would refer me to another dentist as they would be more experienced in removing the wisdom tooth with wonky roots (I can't remember the actual name they gave these)

I would get it removed. It may not be causing you problems atm but I bet it will in the future.

I would just have it out, if it’s likely you’ll need it removed at some point in the future anyway it’s just prolonging it and you’ll be paying for a filling and down the line an extraction

If it’s generally healthy except for the cavity why remove it? Get it refilled, then pay more attention to brushing, using a water flosser etc. to properly reach the back section.
theres no rule about removing them at a certain age, dh near 70 has all 4.
removing it will cause the others to shift slightly.

I would never have a tooth out that wasn’t giving me trouble. You lose gum structure where there is a gap and it can lead to neighbouring teeth collapsing or going for a wander. It’s also a route for infection. I’d keep it until it needs to go, as long as it’s healthy. Decay is another matter.

From what the dentist said there is no decay currently, it is because I cracked the filling when biting something hard that my filling has broken.

There was no decay in mine either. I asked when it was out why it had kicked off and formed an abscess. Nothing wrong with the tooth.

They just choose violence sometimes out the blue.

Im overcrowded so when the time comes and it will.... mine is getting extracted

Upper wisdom tooth- extract
You will be better off without it

I've had two wisdom teeth out now - one for traumatic injury (lacrosse ball to the face) and one just 'one of those things'. I have two fillings as well...and honestly the fillings were far far worse. The drilling was agony, and I had to have five injections to numb the gums enough (because I am a precious princess) as I could literally feel everything. I couldn't feel a thing with the extractions and took less numbing meds for them.

In my first extraction, I had a steak 24 hours later and was dog walking. No complications.

In my second, I had 'dry socket' and I knew I was going to get it (I just knew ahead of the extraction) and worked myself up into a state over it. Honestly, I really wasn't sure what the fuss was after. Yeah, dry socket is bad (and it's the complication of extraction everyone goes on about), but it lasts about 3 days and if you take neurofen and paracetamol it's not even as bad as period cramps. Honestly, give me dry socket over period cramps any day.

I had my top right wisdom tooth filled last year after a small amount of decay was identified. At the time it wasn’t causing me any pain or trouble so the decay was a surprise. They offered me the choice between extract or fill and I went for the filling. Ever since the filling the tooth has been sensitive (it was probably about a year ago I had it done). I was told this isn’t unusual and to just use sensitive teeth toothpaste to calm it down. This hasn’t really worked and it’s been sensitive to the extent I’ve been avoiding chewing on it! Then just recently it’s become incredibly painful - I need to go to the dentist asap and this time will just get it out if possible (I wish I’d just done that in the first place since the filling hasn’t worked out in my case!). I had my top left one removed a few years ago with no issues.

Thank you for all the replies, My filling that has cracked was painful after having it done for a few days after and I was worried it may not settle but it did until now. So this is also making me wonder whether to have it removed but then like some I also think if it can be filled just do that. Tough to choose

For what its worth, my dentist kept filling and refilling a certain tooth.

It wasn't until I saw a periodontist at a specialist practice that I was told that it was a wisdom tooth and would be better removed. She wrote to my local dentist...

He was clearly a bit disgruntled, but he was able to remove it with ease. What a relief it was too!